iStarUSA Inc. SAGE-PCIE-2U3 PCI to 1394 / USB expansion card 2x USB 5.0 Gbps

PCI expansion card for USB and 1394

The iStarUSA SAGE-PCIE-2U3 adds two USB ports and a 1394 connection to a desktop through a standard PCI slot. It delivers up to 5.0 Gbps transfer rate and remains compliant with USB 3.0 and xHCI specifications. The card supports USB 3.0, 2.0 and 1.1 devices for broad peripheral compatibility. It also supports Serial ATA II Port Multiplier 1.0 specification revision 1.1.

Upgrade from USB 2.0 or missing 1394

This card replaces a system that relies on slower USB 2.0 ports or lacks a 1394 interface entirely. The jump is worth it when external storage or legacy devices need the 5.0 Gbps bandwidth or the 1394 connection. It brings modern host-controller compliance to older platforms that still run Windows XP, Vista, 2003 Server, 2008 Server or Win7 in 32-bit and 64-bit editions.

Limited by PCI bus and legacy OS support

The PCI interface caps real-world throughput below the 5.0 Gbps USB 3.0 ceiling, so sustained transfers will not reach the nominal rate. Driver support ends with the listed Windows versions, leaving newer operating systems without official support. Buyers who need more than two USB ports or require current OS drivers should consider a different solution.